Control valve for water conditioners

ABSTRACT

A two position spool type control valve wherein a single pilot valve governs operation of a hydraulic actuator for the valve spool and also controls communication of a drain port with one of a pair of tank ports in the valve body.

ttes ten [19] Rudelick [4 Feb. 25, 1975 CONTROL VALVE FOR WATERCONDITIONERS [75] Inventor: John Rudeliclt, Milwaukee, Wis. [73]Assignee: Calgon Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: Nov. 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 416,613

[52] U.S. C1 137/625.29, 210/278 [51] Int. CLL. F16k 11/07 [58] Field ofSearch 137/625.29, 599.1; 210/278 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,183,933 5/1965 Whitlock et al. l37/625.29 X

3/1967 Rudelick l37/625.29 8/1972 Launay ..210/278 PrimaryExaminer-Arnold Rosenthal Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ira Milton Jones andAssociates; Martin L. Katz 5? ABSTRACT A two position spool type controlvalve wherein a single pilot valve governs operation of a hydraulicactuator for the valve spool and also controls communication of a drainport with one of a pair of tank ports in the valve body.

9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PMENIEB FEB 2 51975 sum 1 er 2 I CONTROLVALVE FOR WATER CONDITIONERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to water conditioning systems, and has more particular referenceto control valves of the two-position type such as are used in ionexchange water softening apparatus to govern service and regeneratingflows therein.

A typical water softener installation of this nature may comprise asoftener tank containing an ion exchange medium, such as a bed ofsynthetic resin beads, a brine tank, an injector for educting brine fromthe brine tank, and a control valve to govern service and regeneratingflows of fluid through the softener tank.

A two-position control valve of the type with which this invention isconcerned, is provided with a valve spool to normally direct hard waterin one direction through the softener tank for service operation of thesystem; and to successively effect flow in the opposite directionthrough the tank of brine and then rinse water for regeneratingoperation of the system in the second position of the valve spool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a purpose of this invention to provide atwoposition service and regenerating flow control valve for waterconditioning apparatus which features compactness and simplicity ofconstruction to enable manufacture and repair at low cost.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a controlvalve for water conditioning apparatus wherein an improved portingarrangement assures the desired compactness and simplicity ofconstruction referred to in the preceding paragraph.

It is another object of the invention to provide a control valve such asdescribed, with a valve element that is shifted back and forthbetween'service and regenerating positions be actuating means governedby a pilot valve which also serves to establish communication of one ofa pair of tank ports in the valve body with a drain port to which brineeffluent flows in the regenerating position of the valve element.

With these observations and objectives in mind, the manner in which theinvention achieves its purpose will be appreciated from the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings, which exemplify theinvention, it being understood that changes may be made in the specificapparatus disclosed herein without departing from the essentials of theinvention set forth in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one complete example of theembodiment of the invention con structed according to the best mode sofar devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, andin which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a water conditioner control valve of thisinvention, showing the valve spool thereof in its service position; and

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the valve spool in itsregenerating position.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 5 generallydesignates the body of the service and regenerating flow control valveof this invention. The body is comprised of several component partsnamely, a main body portion 6, front and rear end covers 7 and 8,respectively, and a pilot housing 9. These components are securedtogether by suitable screw threaded fasteners (not shown) with the pilothousing 9 at the top of the main body portion 6 and near the front cover7.

It is a feature of this invention that the body can be made either as aninjection molding of a suitable high strength plastic material, such asNoryl, or as a casting of any of the corrosion resistant metals commonlyused for water softener valves. In either event, the main body portion 6is formed with an adapter nipple II which projects from its bottom andhas external screw threads 12 thereon. The nipple provides forattachment of the control valve to the top of a water softener tank,such as indicated at 13, and it is provided with a flange 14 having anO-ring 15 confined in a groove in its underside to seal the jointbetween the nipple and the tank.

The main body portion 6 is formed with a chamber 17 which extendshorizontally therethrough from the front cover 7 to the rear cover 8, tobe closed by said covers. The front cover 7 is cup-shaped and ispreferably made of a transparent plastic material. Its rim is sealinglyengaged, as at 18, with the front wall of the main body portion 6, andits hollow interior registers and communicates with an enlarged frontportion 20 of the chamber 17.

The hollow interior of the cover defines a pair of communicating frontand rear cylinders 21 and 22, respectively, the rear cylinder 22 beinglarger in diameter than the front cylinder 21 but coaxial therewith.

A valve spool 24 is reciprocably received within the chamber 17, and ithas a stem 25 which projects for wardly into the larger rear cylinder 22in the cover. A stepped piston 26 is secured to the stem 25, as by ascrew threaded connection 27. The smaller diameter portion 28 of thepiston is reciprocably received in the front cylinder 21, while thelarger diameter piston 29 is reciprocably received in the rear cylinder22.

The piston and cylinderarrangement described provides a hydraulicactuator for the valve spool, which is operable to effect shifting ofthe spool back and forth between its service position seen in FIG. 1,and its regenerating position seen in FIG. 2. The cylinders 21 and 22normally contain hard water at the same pressure, so that the fluidforce exerted upon the rear face of the larger piston 29 in cylinder 22will hold the valve spool in a forward limit of motion.

It is only when the space in cylinder 22 behind the larger piston isvented that the fluid pressure force acting upon the front face of thesmaller piston in cylinder 21 becomes effective to shift the valve spoolto its rearward limit of motion seen in FIG. 2.

The forward or service position of the valve spool is defined by theengagement of the larger piston 29 with a rearwardly facing annularshoulder 30 at the bottom of the larger cylinder 22. The rearward orregenerating position of the valve spool is defined by the engagement ofa valve disc 32 on its rear end with a forwardly facing annular valveseat 33 formed on an inward extension 34 of the rear cover 8. Thisinward extension 34 is received in an enlarged rear portion 35 of thechamber 17.

The spool 24 has a pair of front and rear lands 36 and 37, respectively,disposed at opposite axial ends of a circumferential groove 38 in thespool. The lands and the groove cooperate to control communicationbetween a number of ports and passages in the valve body, now about tobe described.

The main portion 6 of the valve body is provided with adjacent hardwater inlet and service outlet ports 40 and 41, respectively. Theseports open to the far side of the body to be respectively connected-withsource water and service lines, not shown. The inlet port 40 opensinwardly to the small diameter central portion 42 of the chamber 17, andit is closer to the front of the body than the service outlet 41.

The service port 41 opens inwardly to the chamber at a location slightlyforwardly of the valve seat 33 and in line with the wall of an annularrear spool guide member 43 which comprises an enlarged forward part ofthe inward extension 34 on the rear cover. The rear land 37 on the spoolis guided for back and forth sliding motion within the surrounding wallof the guide member 43. Openings 44 in said wall cooperate with similaropenings 45 in the wall of the cover extension 34 rearwardly of thevalve seat 33 to provide for flow of softened water to the service port41 in a manner to be described shortly.

The front cover 7 serves to hold a second annular spool guide member 47in position within the front chamber portion 20. The side wall of thefront guide member surrounds and has guiding engagement with the forwardland 36 on the spool, and it is also provided with a number of openings48 which communicate the central chamber portion 42 with the enlargedfront chamber portion 20 when the valve spool is in its service positionseen in FIG. 1.

The body is further provided with first and second tank ports 50 and 51which open downwardly to the underside of the main body portion 6through the interior of the nipple 11. The first tank port communicatesdirectly with the enlarged front chamber portion 20, while the secondtank port 51 communicates with the enlarged rear chamber portion 35through a lateral branch 53 of the latter located near the bottom of thebody.

This lateral branch 53 of the chamber is defined in part by an innerwall portion 54 of the which extends sidewise thereacross, and by ahorizontal wall 55 beneath the wall portion 54, formed on the upper endof a socket 56. The bore in the socket provides the tank port 51 whichopens upwardly into the lateral branch 53 of the rear chamber portion35.

The socket provides for reception of the upper end of the long tube 57that extends down into the softener tank substantially to the bottomthereof, to be embedded in the ion exchange material therein. Though notshown, the bottom of the tube is provided with a multiplicity of narrowslits which prevent the tiny beads of ion exchange material from passinginto the tube along with softened water during upward service flow offluid in the tube.

It should be noted that the wall 55 and the port forming socket thereonare part of a plug-like fitting which is fixed in the interior of thenipple 11 without, however, interfering with flow of fluid through thatportion of the nipple that provides the first tank port 50.

The main body portion 6 is also provided with an injector port 60 whichis at all times communicated with the service outlet 41 and which isadapted to be connected to one end port of an injector indicated at 61,by means of a duct 62. A brine inlet port 63 in the center of the rearcover 8 is adapted to be connected to the outlet end of the injector asby a duct 64.

As is customary, the injector has a side eduction port 65 which isadapted to be communicated with a source of concentrated brine, so thatsuch brine will be drawn into the injector during flow of hard waterthrough the latter and delivered into the rear chamber portion 35through brine inlet port 63 in the cover 8.

The pilot housing 9 is secured to the top of the main body portion 6directly over'an upwardly opening well 67 therein. A hole 68 leadingthrough the bottom ofthe well to the enlarged front chamber portion 20cooperates with the well to define the inner end portion of a drainpassage. The drain passage extends upwardly through an annular valveseat 69 formed in the housing 9, and leads to a drain port-70 that openslaterally to the exterior of the housing from a vertical counterbore 71concentric with the valve seat 69 and providing an outer end portion ofthe drain passage.

The counterbore 71 is formed at the inner end of a bore 71 whichslidably accommodates the stem 72 of a pilot valve. The head 73 of thepilot valve is located in the well 67 and is normally held in engagementwith the downwardly facing valve seat 69 by a spring 74, to close offthe drain passage from the drain port.

The larger cylinder 22 in the front cover 7 is both pressurized andvented through a passageway 76 in the main body portion 6. One end ofthis passageway opens to the well 67, and the other end thereof iscommunicated with the large cylinder 22 through notches 78 in the frontguide member and an annular groove 79 in its periphery.

It will thus be seen that the inner end portion of the drain passageway,which is to say that portion thereof which is beneath the valve seat 69,is at all times in communication with the first tank port 50 and withthe larger actuating cylinder 22 in the front cover 7. Moreover, in theservice position of the valve spool 24, the pressure of hard water fromthe inlet port 40 is imposed on the rear face of the piston in cylinder22 so as to hold-the spool in its forward position seen in FIG. 1. Thisis possible because the groove 38 in the spool and the openings 48 inthe front guide member then afford communication between the inlet port40 and the hole 68 at the inner end of the drain passage, while the well67 at all times affords communication between the hole 68 and thepassageway 76 leading to cylinder 22.

As soon as the head 73 of the pilot valve is moved off of its seat 69,however, the well 67 communicates the hole 68, the venting passageway 76and cylinder 22 with the drain port 70 through the counterbore 71 in thepilot housing 9. At the same time, of course, the first tank port 50 isalso vented to the drain port 70.

With the pilot valve open, water under pressure from the inlet port 40can flow into the forward end of the smaller cylinder 21 in cover 7 toexert force on the front face of piston 28 therein and thereby cause thevalve spool to be shifted rearwardly to its regenerating position seenin FIG. 2. Such flow of source water into cylinder 21 is made possiblethrough the provision of coaxial passageways 81 and 82 in the valvespool and its stem, respectively. The passageway 81 opens rearwardly tothe groove 38 in the spool, while the passageway 82 opens forwardlythrough the differential piston 28, 29 into the space in cylinder 21ahead of the small diameter piston 28.

OPERATION The stem 72 of the pilot valve projects upwardly out of thepilot housing 9 to make possible either manual or automatic actuation ofthe pilot valve,-as through the medium of timer mechanism indicated at84, mounted on the top of the body portion 6 of the valve body. Ineither event, the pilot valve is held closed as long as the controlvalve is to remain in service operation.

For purpose of illustration, it can be assumed that the first tank port50 is connected to the top of the tank of a downflow service-upflowregeneration softener; while the second tank port 51 is in communicationwith the bottom portion of the tank through the tube 57.

In its service position, the rear land on the spool seats in a U-cupseal in the valve body, and the spool directs incoming hard water frominlet port 40 to the tank port 50 for downward flow through the bed ofion exchange material in the softener tank. Soft water from the bottomportion of the softener tank flows upwardly in the tube 57 to the tankport 51 and debouches into the rear chamber portion 35 through thelateral extension 53 thereof. The soft water thus entering chamberportion 35 flows forwardly through the now open valve seat 33 to theservice port 41.

At this time also, the pressure of water at the inlet port 40 ismanifested in the rear portion of the larger cylinder 22 in cover 7 tohold the valve spool in its service position. Though the injector port60 is also in communication with the rear chamber portion 35 at thistime, soft water will not flow through the injector for the reason thatits outlet end is also in communication with chamber portion 35. This isto say that the injector is inoperative because the water pressures atits inlet and outlet ends are equal in the service position of the valvespool.

Actuation of the pilot valve to unseat the same initiates a regeneratingcycle comprised of brining and rinsing following brining, during thetime the pilot valve is open. The duration of the brining operation isordinarily determined by the amount of brine available for eduction bythe injector, and the rinsing step of the cylce follows automaticallyafter the supply of brine has been educted.

When the pilot valve is unseated, tank port 50 is vented to the drainport 70, as is the larger diameter cylinder 22 of the hydraulicactuator. Source water then flows into the forward cylinder 21 to causerearward actuation of the valve spool to its regenerating position seenin FIG. 2.

In that position, the land 36 on the valve spool seats within anotherU-cup seal to thus close off the inlet port 40 from the top of tank port50, while spool groove 38 connects the inlet with the service port 41.This makes hard water available to the service lines for the entireperiod the pilot valve is held open. At this time also, the valve disc32 on, the valve spool is in engagement with its seat 33 to therebyclose off the service outlet port 41 from the large rear chamber portion35 and the bottom of tank port 51. Bypass water from the inlet port nowissues from the injector port 60 and flows through the injector 61 tothe brine port 63, to deliver to said port the brine which is eductedinto the stream of water flowing through the injector.

The brine thus entering the large chamber portion 35 is constrained toflow down through the bottom of tank port for regeneration of ionexchange material in the softener tank. The brine effluent dischargingfrom the top of tank port 50 flows through the open pilot valve to thedrain port 70.

After a measured quantity of brine has been educted by the injector, theflow of brine thereto is shut off by the usual float valve in the brinetank (not shown). Only clear hard water then flows through the injectorand into the tank for upward rinsing of the ion exchange material. Therinse water, of course, is also returned to the tank port 50 fordischarge to the drain port 70.

Rinsing is terminated as soon as the pilot valve is reclosed. This canbe effected manually, or automatically at the dictate of timingmechanism as mentioned earlier. Such reclosure of the pilot valve closesoff the top of tank port 50 from the drain port and causes tank waterissuing from the port 50 to :flow into the hole 68 of the drain passage,through the well 67 and passageway 76, into the rear of the largediameter cylinder 22 of the hydraulic spool actuator. This, of course,drives the spool forwardly, back to its service position, where itremains until the pilot valve is again actuated to its open position.

It should be noted that actuation of the valve spool toward and from itsservice position is facilitated by reason of the provision of a vent 86in the front cover 7, which opens to the space in the actuating cylinder22 at a location ahead of the shoulder 30 which defines the forwardlimit of spool movement.

From the foregoing description, together with the accompanying drawings,it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that thisinvention provides an improved two-position control valve for waterconditioners, featuring ease of servicing and manufacture at low cost.

The invention is defined by the following claims:

1. A service and regeneration flow control valve for water conditioningapparatus, having a body with a chamber to receive a reciprocable valvespool, and wherein land means on the spool is operable to directuntreated water from an inlet pont through said chamber to a first tankport in a service position of the spool at which said land means alsodirects treated water through said chamber to a service outlet port froma second tank port, characterized by:

A. said body further having a drain port, an injector port communicatingwith the service outlet, and a brine inlet port at all timescommunicating with the second tank port;

B. drain passage means in the body having one end portion communicatedwith the drain port and its other end portion at all times incommunication with said first tank port through said chamber;

C. said land means on the spool being operable upon movement thereof toaregenerating position spaced axially from its service: position tocommunicate the inlet port with the injector and service outlet portsbut to close it off from the first tank port and from said other endportion of said drain passage means, and to also close off the serviceoutlet from the second tank port;

D. hydraulic actuating means for the valve spool operable to hold thesame in its service position except upon venting of a pressure chambercomprising a portion of said actuating means;

E. a venting passage for said pressure chamber comprising a branch ofsaid drain passage means at all times communicating with said other endportion of said drain passage means;

F. and valve means independent of the valve spool normally closing offcommunication between the drain port and said one end portion of saiddrain passage means, but movable to an open position to effect ventingof said pressure chamber and said first tank port to the drain port.

2. A distributor valve for water conditioning apparatus, having a bodywith a chamber to receive a reciprocable valve spool, an inlet foruntreated water, a service outlet for treated water, first and secondtank ports, a drain port, an injector port in communication with theservice outlet, and a brine inlet port at all times communicating withthe second tank port, characterized by:

A. land means on the spool operable in a service position thereof todirect inlet water to said first tank port and to direct treated waterto the service outlet from said second tank port;

B. passage means in the body to communicate the first tank port with thedrain port;

C. valve means movable relative to the spool to and from a normallyclosed position blocking said passage means;

D. said land means being operable in a regenerating position of thespool spaced axially from its service position to communicate said inletand outlet ports, to close off the inlet port from the first tank port,and to close off the second tank port from the service outlet;

E. hydraulic actuating means for the valve spool operable to hold thesame in its service position except upon venting of a pressure chambercomprising a portion of said actuating means;

F. means providing a venting passage for said pressure chamber, saidventing passage communicating with the first tank port and beingcommunicable with the drain port whenever said valve means is moved outof its closed position;

G. and said land means on the spool being operable in the regeneratingposition thereof to close off communication between said venting passageand the inlet port.

3. A service and regenerating flow control valve for water conditioningapparatus, wherein the body of the valve is provided with a valvechamber having front, rear and central portions, said control valvebeing characterized by:

A. a valve spool guided for axial fore and aft motion in said valvechamber between defined limits;

B. the body having a drain passage the inner end of which opens to thefront portion of the valve chamber and to a spool actuating chamberadjacent thereto;

C. a separate pilot valve normally closing the outer end of said drainpassage;

D. spool actuating means rendered operative by pressure of water in saidactuating chamber to hold the spool in its forward limit of motion attimes when the pilot valve is closed, and rendered operative to effectmotion of the spool to its rearward limit of motion in consequence ofopening of the pilot valve to effect venting of said actuating chamber;

E. the body having 1. a first tank port which opens to said frontportion of the chamber and is at all times communicated thereby with theinner end of the drain passage so as to be also communicated with saidactuating chamber,

2. passage means communicating with the rear portion of the chamber andproviding a brine inlet port, a second tank port at all timescommunicated with the brine inlet port, and communicating service outletand injector ports,

3. and a water inlet port which opens to said central portion of thechamber;

F. the valve spool being operable in its forward limit of motion toconnect said water inlet and first tank ports and to communicate thesecond tank and service outlet ports;

G. means rendering the valve spool operable in its rearward limit ofmotion to close off the first tank port from the water inlet;

H. and other means rendering the valve spool operable in its rearwardlimit of motion to close off the second tank port from the serviceoutlet port.

4. The control valve of claim 3, wherein said other means comprises anannular valve seat on the body through which the second tank portcommunicates with the service outlet, and a disc on the rear of thevalve spool arranged to engage said seat and close off fluid flowtherethrough in the rearmost limit of spool motion.

5. A service and regeneration flow control valve for water conditioningapparatus, having a body with a valve chamber extending from front toback therethrough, characterized by:

A. the valve chamber having a central portion into which untreated watercan flow from an inlet port, and having enlarged portions fore and aftof said central portion;

B. means on the body closing said enlarged chamber portions including ahollow cover having a pressure chamber therein;

C. a valve spool movable axially in the valve chamber between definedlimits;

D. front and rear spool guide members in said enlarged valve chamberportions having wall portions surrounding the spool to guide the samefor fore and aft reciprocatory motion;

E. the body having passage means which communicates with the enlargedfront portion of the valve chamber and provides 1. a first tank port atall times in communication with said pressure chamber,

2. and a drain passage having one end portion at all times communicatedwith the first tank port and said pressure chamber, and its other endportion connected to a waste water port;

F. the body having other passage means communicating with the enlargedrear chamber portion and providing 1. service outlet and injector ports,

2. a second tank port,

3. and a brine inlet port at all times in communication with the secondtank port;

G. means in the body providing a water inlet port which opens to saidcentral chamber portion;

H. the valve spool having a circumferential groove therein to providefor communication of the water inlet port with the first tank port andsaid one end portion of the drain passage in the forward limit of spoolmotion, and to provide for communication of the water inlet port withthe service outlet and injector ports in the rearward limit of spoolmotion; a pilot valve normally closing said other end portion of thedrain passage but operable when opened to effect venting of said firsttank port and of said pressure chamber;

J. and actuating means for the valve spool controlled by said pilotvalve, said actuating means being housed in the hollow interior of saidcover and said pressure chamber comprising a part of said actuatingmeans, the latter being operable to effect motion of the spool to itsforward limit of motion in consequence of closure of the pilot valvemeans to close off said pressure chamber from the waste water port, andto effectmovement of the spool to its rearward limit of motion inconsequence of opening of the pilot valve to vent said pressure chamberto the waste water port.

6. The control valve of claim 5, further characterized A. said spoolguide members having guide bars thereon which extend axially of thespool in engagement with land means thereon;

B. and said guide bars being spaced circumferentially from one anotherto define openings through which fluid can flow from the water inletport to the first tank port, from the second tank port to the serviceoutlet port, and from the brine port to the second tank port.

7. A service and regeneration flow control valve for water conditioningapparatus, characterized by:

A. a body having first and second chambers, a pair of tank ports, and adrain passage communicating with one of said tank ports and leading to adrain port;

B. a valve spool in said first chamber movable back and forth betweendefined service and regenerating positions in the latter of which thespool is operable to direct waste water to the drain passage from saidone tank port;

C. actuating means for the spool, said actuating means including saidsecond chamber, and being operable to actuate the spool to itsregenerating position providing said second chamber is vented;

D. means providing a venting passage for said second chamber leading tothe drain port through a portion of said drain passage that is at alltimes connected with said one tank port;

E. and a separate pilot valve normally closing off communication betweenthe yenting passage and the drain port, said pilot valve being movableto an open position to simultaneously connect said second chamber andsaid one tank port with the drain port.

8. A service and regenerating flow control valve for water conditioningapparatus, having a body with a chamber extending from the front of thebody to the back thereof, characterized by:

A. said chamber having a central portion and enlarged chamber portionsfore and aft thereof; b. covers secured to the front and rear of thebody and closing said enlarged chamber portions;

C. a valve spool movable fore and aft in the chamber between definedlimits;

D. front and rear spool guide members in said enlarged chamber portionshaving wall portions which are engaged by axially spaced portions ofthespool to guide the same for fore and aft reciprocatory motion in thechamber;

E. the body having passage means communicating with the front chamberportions and providing a first tank port, and a drain passage whichcommunicates with said first tank port and leads to a drain port;

F. the body having other passage means communicable with the rearchamber portion and providing service outlet, injector, second tank, andbrine inlet ports, said last two ports being communicated at all times;

G..means in the body providing a water inlet port which opens to saidchamber;

H. the spool having a circumferential groove to communicate the waterinlet and first tank ports in the forward limit of spool motion and tocommunicate the water inlet with the service outlet and injector portsin the rearward limit of spool motion;

. cooperating means on the body and the spool operable in the forwardlimit of spool motion to seal off the inlet port from the service port;

J. cooperating means on the body and the spool operable in the rearwardlimit of spool motion to seal off the water inlet from the first tankport and t0 also seal off the second tank and brine inlet ports from theserivce outlet port;

K. hydraulic actuating means for the spool comprising a pressure chamberwhich, when subjected to the pressure, at said water inlet port causesthe spool to be held in its forward limit of motion, said actuatingmeans being adapted to effect motion of the spool to its rearward limitupon venting of said pressure chamber;

L. means in the body providing a passageway through which said pressurechamber can be vented to the drain port, said passageway having a branchwhich leads to said front chamber portion to be communicable with theinlet port through openings in the wall of the front guide member andsaid spool groove in the forward limit of spool motion;

M. and valve means separate from the valve spool normally closing saidpassageway for governing communication of the first tank port and saidpressure chamber with the drain port.

9. The flow control valve of claim 8, further characterized by: I

A. said front and rear spool guide members being held in position bysaid cup covers;

B. said front cover being cup shaped;

C. and said hydraulic actuating means being located in the hollowinterior of the front cover.

1. A service and regeneration flow control valve for water conditioningapparatus, having a body with a chamber to receive a reciprocable valvespool, and wherein land means on the spool is operable to directuntreated water from an inlet port through said chamber to a first tankport in a service position of the spool at which said land means alsodirects treated water through said chamber to a service outlet port froma second tank port, characterized by: A. said body further having adrain port, an injector port communicating with the service outlet, anda brine inlet port at all Times communicating with the second tank port;B. drain passage means in the body having one end portion communicatedwith the drain port and its other end portion at all times incommunication with said first tank port through said chamber; C. saidland means on the spool being operable upon movement thereof to aregenerating position spaced axially from its service position tocommunicate the inlet port with the injector and service outlet portsbut to close it off from the first tank port and from said other endportion of said drain passage means, and to also close off the serviceoutlet from the second tank port; D. hydraulic actuating means for thevalve spool operable to hold the same in its service position exceptupon venting of a pressure chamber comprising a portion of saidactuating means; E. a venting passage for said pressure chambercomprising a branch of said drain passage means at all timescommunicating with said other end portion of said drain passage means;F. and valve means independent of the valve spool normally closing offcommunication between the drain port and said one end portion of saiddrain passage means, but movable to an open position to effect ventingof said pressure chamber and said first tank port to the drain port. 2.A distributor valve for water conditioning apparatus, having a body witha chamber to receive a reciprocable valve spool, an inlet for untreatedwater, a service outlet for treated water, first and second tank ports,a drain port, an injector port in communication with the service outlet,and a brine inlet port at all times communicating with the second tankport, characterized by: A. land means on the spool operable in a serviceposition thereof to direct inlet water to said first tank port and todirect treated water to the service outlet from said second tank port;B. passage means in the body to communicate the first tank port with thedrain port; C. valve means movable relative to the spool to and from anormally closed position blocking said passage means; D. said land meansbeing operable in a regenerating position of the spool spaced axiallyfrom its service position to communicate said inlet and outlet ports, toclose off the inlet port from the first tank port, and to close off thesecond tank port from the service outlet; E. hydraulic actuating meansfor the valve spool operable to hold the same in its service positionexcept upon venting of a pressure chamber comprising a portion of saidactuating means; F. means providing a venting passage for said pressurechamber, said venting passage communicating with the first tank port andbeing communicable with the drain port whenever said valve means ismoved out of its closed position; G. and said land means on the spoolbeing operable in the regenerating position thereof to close offcommunication between said venting passage and the inlet port. 2.passage means communicating with the rear portion of the chamber andproviding a brine inlet port, a second tank port at all timescommunicated with the brine inlet port, and communicating service outletand injector ports,
 2. and a drain passage having one end portion at alltimes communicated with the first tank port and said pressure chamber,and its other end portion connected to a waste water port; F. the bodyhaving other passage means communicating with the enlarged rear chamberportion and providing
 2. a second tank port,
 3. and a water inlet portwhich opens to said central portion of the chamber; F. the valve spoolbeing operable in its forward limit of motion to connect said waterinlet and first tank ports and to communicate the second tank andservice outlet ports; G. means rendering the valve spool operable in itsrearward limit of motion to close off the first tank port from the waterinlet; H. and other means rendering the valve spool operable in itsrearward limit of motion to close off the second tank port from theservice outlet port.
 3. A service and regenerating flow control valvefor water conditioning apparatus, wherein the body of the valve isprovided with a valve chamber having front, rear and central portions,said control valve being characterized by: A. a valve spool guided foraxial fore and aft motion in said valve chamber between defined limits;B. the body having a drain passage the inner end of which opens to thefront portion of the valve chamber and to a spool actuating chamberadjacent thereto; C. a separate pilot valve normally closing the outerend of said drain passage; D. spool actuating means rendered operativeby pressure of water in said actuating chamber to hold the spool in itsforward limit of motion at times when the pilot valve is closed, andrendered operative to effect motion of the spool to its rearward limitof motion in consequence of opening of the pilot valve to effect ventingof said actuating chamber; E. the body having
 3. and a brine inlet portat all times in communication with the second tank port; G. means in thebody providing a water inlet port which opens to said central chamberportion; H. the valve spool having a circumferential groove therein toprovide for communication of the water inlet port with the first tankport and said one end portion of the drain passage in the forward limitof spool motion, and to provide for communication of the water inletport with the service outlet and injector ports in the rearward limit ofspool motion; I. a pilot valve normally closing said other end portionof the drain passage but operable when opened to effect venting of saidfirst tank port and of said pressure chamber; J. and actuating means forthe valve spool controlled by said pilot valve, said actuating meansbeing housed in the hollow interior of said cover and said pressurechamber comprising a part of said actuating means, the latter beingoperable to effect motion of the spool to its forward limit of motion inconsequence of closure of the pilot valve means to close off saidpressure chamber from the waste water port, and to effect movement ofthe spool to its rearward limit of motion in consequence of opening ofthe pilot valve to vent said pressure chamber to the waste water port.4. The control valve of claim 3, wherein said other means comprises anannular valve seat on the body through which the second tank portcommunicates with the service outlet, and a disc on the rear of thevalve spool arranged to engage said seat and close off fluid flowtherethrough in the rearmost limit of spool motion.
 5. A service andregeneration flow control valve for water conditioning apparatus, havinga body with a valve chamber extending from front to back therethrough,characterized by: A. the valve chamber having a central portion intowhich untreated water can flow from an inlet port, and having enlargedportions fore and aft of said central portion; B. means on the bodyclosing said enlarged chamber portions including a hollow cover having apressure chamber therein; C. a valve spool movable axially in the valvechamber between defined limits; D. front and rear spool guide members insaid enlarged valve chamber portions having wall portions surroundingthe spool to guide the same for fore and aft reciprocatory motion; E.the body having passage means which communicates with the enlarged frontportion of the valve chamber and provides
 6. The control valve of claim5, further charactErized by: A. said spool guide members having guidebars thereon which extend axially of the spool in engagement with landmeans thereon; B. and said guide bars being spaced circumferentiallyfrom one another to define openings through which fluid can flow fromthe water inlet port to the first tank port, from the second tank portto the service outlet port, and from the brine port to the second tankport.
 7. A service and regeneration flow control valve for waterconditioning apparatus, characterized by: A. a body having first andsecond chambers, a pair of tank ports, and a drain passage communicatingwith one of said tank ports and leading to a drain port; B. a valvespool in said first chamber movable back and forth between definedservice and regenerating positions in the latter of which the spool isoperable to direct waste water to the drain passage from said one tankport; C. actuating means for the spool, said actuating means includingsaid second chamber, and being operable to actuate the spool to itsregenerating position providing said second chamber is vented; D. meansproviding a venting passage for said second chamber leading to the drainport through a portion of said drain passage that is at all timesconnected with said one tank port; E. and a separate pilot valvenormally closing off communication between the venting passage and thedrain port, said pilot valve being movable to an open position tosimultaneously connect said second chamber and said one tank port withthe drain port.
 8. A service and regenerating flow control valve forwater conditioning apparatus, having a body with a chamber extendingfrom the front of the body to the back thereof, characterized by: A.said chamber having a central portion and enlarged chamber portions foreand aft thereof; b. covers secured to the front and rear of the body andclosing said enlarged chamber portions; C. a valve spool movable foreand aft in the chamber between defined limits; D. front and rear spoolguide members in said enlarged chamber portions having wall portionswhich are engaged by axially spaced portions of the spool to guide thesame for fore and aft reciprocatory motion in the chamber; E. the bodyhaving passage means communicating with the front chamber portions andproviding a first tank port, and a drain passage which communicates withsaid first tank port and leads to a drain port; F. the body having otherpassage means communicable with the rear chamber portion and providingservice outlet, injector, second tank, and brine inlet ports, said lasttwo ports being communicated at all times; G. means in the bodyproviding a water inlet port which opens to said chamber; H. the spoolhaving a circumferential groove to communicate the water inlet and firsttank ports in the forward limit of spool motion and to communicate thewater inlet with the service outlet and injector ports in the rearwardlimit of spool motion; I. cooperating means on the body and the spooloperable in the forward limit of spool motion to seal off the inlet portfrom the service port; J. cooperating means on the body and the spooloperable in the rearward limit of spool motion to seal off the waterinlet from the first tank port and t0 also seal off the second tank andbrine inlet ports from the serivce outlet port; K. hydraulic actuatingmeans for the spool comprising a pressure chamber which, when subjectedto the pressure at said water inlet port causes the spool to be held inits forward limit of motion, said actuating means being adapted toeffect motion of the spool to its rearward limit upon venting of saidpressure chamber; L. means in the body providing a passageway throughwhich said pressure chamber can be vented to the drain port, saidpassageway having a branch which leads to said front chamber portion tobe communicable with the inlet port through openings in thE wall of thefront guide member and said spool groove in the forward limit of spoolmotion; M. and valve means separate from the valve spool normallyclosing said passageway for governing communication of the first tankport and said pressure chamber with the drain port.
 9. The flow controlvalve of claim 8, further characterized by: A. said front and rear spoolguide members being held in position by said cup covers; B. said frontcover being cup shaped; C. and said hydraulic actuating means beinglocated in the hollow interior of the front cover.